Tag: iPhotography

The most wonderful time of the year is also the busiest. Between birthdays, Christmas, and the irregularities of the United States Postal Service, celebrations in our family will often last five days or more.

Like this:

With midterm grades due Friday and our Veterans’ Day program only days away, I didn’t have much time for taking pictures this week. However, I purposefully took a few hours out of my Saturday to spend some time walking and enjoying the fall weather.

Yesterday, Tryon Palace celebrated All Hallows’ Eve. Since the event is geared for children 12 and under, I simply bought a Gardens Pass – I could enjoy the grounds, see neat costumes, and interact with unique characters. I could not participate in any of the games, make any of the crafts, or partake of any of the “free” refreshments. Ostensibly they were free, but were included in the price of the All Hallows Ticket, so were – in actuality – paid for.

Krystal portrayed a witch:

click to embiggen and scroll through the gallery

Coworker Eliot styled himself “Lord Fall” but I called him Tom Bombadil:

I may have mentioned once or twice before that I simply love the fall. I took advantage of my time at the palace to wander the trails and vegetable gardens largely ignored this time of year. Why they are ignored I have no idea – there is sublime beauty in the temporary death fall brings with it.

Like this:

If you follow American news, you know a storm battered the Southeast this week. Krystal called it “a hurricane without the hurricane.” Schools shut down and businesses closed early as roads went underwater. On Monday, I took some video and photographs to make this montage:

On returning from my rainy journey, I felt this photograph best fit the “boundary” challenged via the Daily Post:

Like this:

It seems I haven’t seen the sun in a week; maybe because I haven’t. The sky cleared just enough last Sunday to view the Super Blood Moon Eclipse, but perhaps it wasn’t the best idea to read Lovecraft under such a sky – the rain continues to fall, the water continues to rise, and the weatherman predicts more over the next days.

Now, I tried taking pictures of said eclipse, but my iPhone doesn’t take great moon photos – shocking, I know.

So, what else happened this week?

Several of my history students presented projects centered on the Thirteen American Colonies; as part of that project, they cooked a meal and dipped candles:

Venison and Potato Stew with Greens and Spiced Cider

Beeswax Candles with Red Dye

Then, it was time to celebrate National Coffee Day:

You wouldn’t know to look at it, but this medium dark roast with two cream and two sugar was FREE!

The celebrations continued – despite the rain – with the First Day of October!

For Krystal: Chi Frappuccino

For Me: Salted Carmel Mocha Latte

Finally, here’s a random picture of stuff left in my pockets at the end of the day:

Like this:

1. My weekend schedule changed and I was not able to edit and upload my photos as per my normal schedule.

2. There is a large pressure system moving through and I’ve spend the last several hours in a reclined position trying not to pass out or throw up due to the pain surging through my back. Thanks, dude who ran a red light four years ago, totaling my car and causing 3+ months of swelling on my sciatic nerve. I remember you every time we have a storm.

Anyway, here’s a few things that happened this week.

As usual, food featured prominently.

Krystal’s developed a kick for Zaxby’s Fried House Zalad with Zax Sauce instead of whatever dressing they include. I made a mistake on this order and purchased grilled chicken instead of fried. That’s not why I took this photo, though. No, I photographed this salad for the approximately 4 small pieces of chicken it contained. Seriously, Zaxby’s? If I’m paying $8 for a chicken salad, there had better be chicken on that salad. I’ve found more chicken in a McDonald’s four-piece nugget.

I have one particular student whose family continues to be amazing. I’ve taught at least one of their children every year since I began teaching, and they’ve become one of my staunchest supporters. This year, they’ve begun sending in breakfast sandwiches at least once a week. I cannot thank them enough; as much as I like off-brand blueberry toaster pastries and coffee, it does get old. This same family just signed my up for a 5K on October 17 – I just can’t believe the generosity they bestow.

Every year the Physical Science class creates cell models.

This year, one student made her model out of pizza ingredients.

IT WAS AMAZING

Honestly, it’s one of the best pizzas I’ve ever had the pleasure of tasting.

If she didn’t get extra credit for the taste, she should have.

In case you didn’t know, this week marked the beginning of Autumn here in the Northern Hemisphere. As such, it’s time once again for fall comfort foods like tomato soup and grilled cheese. Moxie, tortilla chips, and saltine crackers are an added bonus. Krystal suggested I make this for supper – and she was totally right. It was perfect.

Despite popular opinion, I’m not totally serious 100% of the time.

Meet Buddy the Skeleton. Yes, he’s a discount Halloween decoration, but from what I can tell he’s almost anatomically correct – the only discrepancy I’ve found is fusing in the knees. Anyway, I just couldn’t resist taking a few humorous photos – and my student found it hilarious, too. It was a good way to wind down after a test.